Film grosses $3.5 million over weekend

According to figures released by Japanese tracking firm Kogyo Tsushin, the pic grossed Y397 million ($3.5 million) on Saturday and Sunday, its first two days in release, ousting megahit “Hero” from the top box office spot.

Given that two other recent hits from distrib Toho, “Dororo” (B.O.: $30 million) and “Unfair: The Movie” ($24 million), started with similar opening numbers, “Crows” could fly as high as $25 million to $30 million.

Miike’s highest earning pic, 2005 kiddie fantasy “The Great Yokai War,” finished with $17.5 million so “Crows” looks like a lock for career No.1.

Based on a long-running comic by Hiroshi Takahashi and produced by a consortium led by the TBS network, “Crows” is about gang wars at a boys’ high school.